Happy birthday to ...Hank Therrien: Chiefs forward from 1959-62. He split the 1959-60 season between the Chiefs and Milwaukee, and the 1960-61 season between Milwaukee, Toledo and the Chiefs -- tallying 28 goals that season. He had 16 goals in 1961-62, the Chiefs' final season. He went from the Chiefs to play in the semi-pro USHL and tallied 33 goals in Green Bay the following year. He played for the United States at the 1966 World Championships. He retired after the 1967 season and coached small college hockey in Wisconsin. A native of Chapleau, Ont., he was born in 1934. He passed away in 2010 at age 76.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

When Scott Hillman became the Indy Fuel's head coach, he said he wanted a hard-working team that would be fun to watch.

So far, the five players signed to the team seem to fill exactly what he's looking for.

The
Fuel have five players signed as part of a roster that will eventually
number at least 20 by the start of camp in October (with 6-8 of those being from
the Chicago Blackhawks' roster), and there's no secret they're following
that personality.

Happy birthday to ...Bob Whitlock: Racers left wing from 1974-76. In 103 games with the team, he had 38 goals and 41 assists, as well as 72 PIM. He was claimed by the team in the 1974 Expansion Draft and had a 31-goal season in 1974-75, and played half the following year with the Racers and the other half with their NAHL affiliate in Mohawk Valley. He finished out his eight-year pro career in the NAHL in 1977, and played senior hockey thereafter. He played one NHL game with the North Stars in 1969-70, and 244 NHL games from 1972-76, playing for the Chicago Cougars and Los Angeles Sharks in addition to the Racers. He had 81 goals and 98 assists in his major pro career. He is a member of the Prince Edward Island Hall of Fame. A native of Charlottetown, PEI, he is 65.

Monday, July 14, 2014

The Indy Fuel will play two preseason games in Alaska against the defending ECHL Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces.

The games will be played at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage on Oct. 7-8 -- a two-game tuneup for the Fuel's Oct. 17 season opener against the Fort Wayne Komets.

This will mark the only meeting between the teams this year. The Fuel and Aces are not scheduled to play during the regular season, although they could meet in the Western Conference Final during the playoffs. The Aces won their third Kelly Cup title since 2006 last spring, beating the Cincinnati Cyclones -- whom they faced in the preseason doubleheader in Anchorage last year.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to take on the Aces in the
preseason,” Fuel coach Scott Hillman said in a team release. “It will be a great test to play the defending
champions and the trip will provide our team a good chance to bond
before the season gets underway.”